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Dawson County deputy diagnosed with COVID-19

sheriff's office

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The Dawson County Sheriff's Office announced on Sunday that a local deputy has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

According to a Facebook post made by the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, the affected deputy, who is not a patrol officer, was originally diagnosed with a sinus infection and placed on restricted duty to minimize contact with others, before testing positive for the virus.

"They are home (quarantined) recovering and are doing well," the post states.

In a statement to the Dawson County News, Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson said that since the COVID-19 outbreak, protective gear, cleaning and disinfecting supplies have been made available to his staff, social distancing has been implemented wherever possible and unnecessary contact is being avoided.

Similarly, Johnson said that procedures at the Dawson County Detention Center have been stepped up to include more detailed medical screening, mandatory temperature checks, medical quarantines, and increased cleaning and disinfections.

On Sunday afternoon the Georgia Department of Public Health announced that 6,647 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed statewide, including 16 cases in Dawson County. GDPH has recorded 1,283 hospitalizations and 211 deaths due to the virus.